<a title="SJVC Home" href="/">Home</a> &gt; <a title="Program Listing" href="/program-listing/">Programs</a> &gt; <a title="Medical Programs" href="/medical-programs/">Medical</a> &gt; <a title="Dental Hygiene" href="/dental-hygiene/">Dental Hygiene</a> &gt; Start Dates and Accreditation

<strong>Program Start Dates</strong>
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<th colspan="2">Ontario</th>
<th colspan="2">San Diego</th>
<th colspan="2">Visalia</th>
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<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>Cohort Start</strong></td>
<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>App Deadline</strong></td>
<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>Cohort Start</strong></td>
<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>App Deadline</strong></td>
<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>Cohort Start</strong></td>
<td width="16%" height="25"><strong>App Deadline</strong></td>
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<td height="25">Jun. 2, 2014</td>
<td height="25">Apr. 2, 2014</td>
<td height="25">Dec. 2, 2013</td>
<td height="25">Oct. 2, 2013</td>
<td height="25">Feb. 3, 2014</td>
<td height="25">Dec. 3, 2013</td>
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<strong>Academic Information</strong>
SJVC offers an accelerated dental hygiene program that covers 2 years worth of coursework in just four 16-week terms and is accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. Graduates earn an Associate of Science degree and are eligible to sit for the national, state and regional boards for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

As a private junior college, SJVC has the resources to give students the individualized attention needed to be successful in their field. The Dental Hygiene program houses three fully equipped clinics allowing students to get real-world experience while completing their studies. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in private practices and public health agencies while taking advantage of high salary, flexible work schedules and job security.

The Dental Hygiene program is 16 months in length (four 16-week terms), and the classes meet Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, and Fridays as needed.

<strong>Students learn how to perform the essential duties of a Dental Hygienist using the following technologies:</strong>
<ul>
	<li>• Computerized dental management/charting software</li>
	<li>• CAESY (Clinically Advanced Education Systems) computerized patient education</li>
	<li>• Intra-Oral cameras</li>
	<li>• Digital and traditional x-ray techniques</li>
	<li>• Hand-and-ultrasonic instruments for advanced scaling and root planing methods</li>
</ul>
It is recommended that students do not work while enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program. No special concessions are granted for working students.

<strong>Clinical Hours:</strong>
Students in the dental hygiene program experience an increasing number of clinical hours as they progress through the program in order to obtain clinical competence. First year dental hygiene students receive eight hours of pre-clinical training per week during their first term, followed by eight hours of clinical experience during their second term. During the second academic year, terms 3 and 4, students are scheduled for twelve and sixteen hours per week, respectively.

<a href="/dental-hygiene-course-listing/">Click here for course listing</a>.

<strong>Accreditation</strong>
San Joaquin Valley College's Dental Hygiene program is accredited by The American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.

San Joaquin Valley College is regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (<a href="http://www.wascweb.org/" target="_blank">WASC</a>), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.